Dues and Other Fees
You must be a member in good standing with the State Bar of Texas in
order to practice law.
Part of the requirements for "good standing" is the
annual payment of your dues and fees as mandated by the Supreme Court
of Texas.*
In addition, there are other compliance requirements and mandatory
payments that we cover in this section.
How
to Pay Dues Online Video
Watch a video on how to pay dues online.
Dues
Schedule
Learn about the dues structure for lawyers licensed in Texas or
elsewhere.
Legal
Services Fee
Get deadlines and exemption details.
ATTORNEY OCCUPATION
TAX
The attorney occupation tax was repealed
by the 84th Legislature.
Firm
Billing
The State Bar of Texas Membership Department has provided an easy
tool for firms and other agencies to pay their attorneys' bar dues and
the legal services fee collectively at one time.
Student
Loan Compliance
What to do if you receive a notice from the Texas Guaranteed
Student Loan Corp about your loan.
Child
Support Compliance
A court order can authorize the State Bar of Texas to suspend your
law license for non-compliance. Read the details.
How
to Pay Dues and Fees
Important dates and payment process details.
Emeritus
Status Information
Information on emeritus status for attorneys 70 years of age or
older.
Military
Waiver for Dues
Find out if you qualify for a military exemption.
Hardship
Waiver for Membership Dues
Find out if you qualify for a hardship exemption.
The purpose of the State Bar of Texas is to engage in those
activities enumerated at §81.012 of the State Bar Act. The expenditure
of funds by the State Bar of Texas is limited as set forth at §81.034
of the State Bar Act and in Keller v. State Bar of California ,
496 U.S.
1 (1990), and McDonald v. Longley , 4 F.4th 229 (5th Cir. 2021).
If any
member has a reasonable belief that any actual or proposed expenditure
is not within such purposes of, or limitations on, the State Bar, then
such member may object thereto and seek a refund of a pro rata portion
of his or her dues expended, plus interest, by filing a written
objection with the Executive Director. The objection must be made in
writing, on the official State Bar Fees Objection Form, addressed to
the Executive Director of the State Bar, P.O. Box 12487, Austin, TX
78711, or by email to objections@texasbar.com . The
objection must be submitted no later than 60 calendar days after the
annual audit of the State Bar for the fiscal year in which the
transaction objected to occurred is published on the State Bar website.
A copy of the State Bar Fees Objection Form may be obtained by written
or in person request to the Executive Director or from the State Bar
website at https://www.texasbar.com/objections .
Upon receipt of a member's objection, the Executive Director
shall within 60 calendar days review such objection together with the
allocation of dues monies spent on the challenged activity and, in
consultation with the President, shall have the discretion to resolve
the objection, including refunding a pro rata portion of the member's
dues, plus interest. If the objecting member contests the Executive
Director's determination of the member's claim, the objecting member
may, within 30 calendar days of notice of the Executive Director's
determination, invoke the objection procedures set forth in Section
3.14 of the State Bar of Texas Board of Directors Policy Manual, which
include an opportunity for the objection to be decided by an impartial
decisionmaker. Any refund of a pro rata share of the member's dues
shall not be construed as an admission by the State Bar that the
challenged activity was not or would not have been within the purposes
of or limitations on the State Bar.
